Screen Director

A Screen Director leads the creative and technical realisation of film, television, or digital content productions. They make artistic decisions about performance, composition, and narrative interpretation, working with cast and crew to translate a script or concept into finished moving-image content. Directors manage the production workflow from pre-production planning through to final editing approval, ensuring creative vision is achieved within budget and scheduling constraints.

Analyse scripts or source material and develop a creative vision, including thematic interpretation, visual style, and narrative approach. Collaborate with cinematographers and production designers to establish the look and technical approach for each scene or sequence. Conduct auditions and cast actors, making decisions about performance choices and character interpretation. Plan shots, angles, and blocking by creating shot lists, storyboards, or animatics before principal photography. Direct actors during rehearsals and on set, providing notes on performance, motivation, and emotional authenticity. Supervise lighting, camera placement, and framing decisions on set to ensure scenes match the planned visual style. Review takes and decide whether scenes require additional coverage or reshoots based on technical quality and performance. Collaborate with sound designers and composers to integrate audio elements that support the narrative and emotional tone.

The standard entry pathway requires a bachelor degree or higher (ABS Skill Level 1). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

Getting directing work is brutally competitive and often unpaid or low-paid for years. Most directors start with shorts, web content, or music videos for minimal money while doing other jobs. Even with a degree, you'll struggle to move into paid TV or film directing without a strong portfolio and industry connections. Income is highly irregular, with long gaps between projects.

Regional areas rarely have directing opportunities. The industry runs on freelance contracts, not permanent jobs. Remote directing is not feasible for live production work.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 2123, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Active Listeningcore
• Adaptability and Flexibilitycore
• Carry out auditionscore
• Conflict Resolutioncore
• Goal Setting and Planningcore
• Negotiationcore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Stakeholder Communicationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Attention to Detail
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity
• Digital Literacy
• Empathy and Emotional Intelligence
• Group Facilitation
• Process Improvement Identification
• Report Writing
• Research and Analysis

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026